PARENTS and carers will be "informally" consulted over the coming weeks on radical plans to overhaul the current three tier education system in West Somerset. As exclusively revealed in the Free Press, Somerset County Council has been drawing up a raft of a proposals over the last few months which could see the closure of two middle schools in a bid to address the problems posed by falling school roles. The district's existing first schools could become primaries, while both the West Somerset Community College and Danesfield Middle School could take a greater age range of pupils. Some first schools could also disappear if education bosses pursue plans to "amalgamate" establishments rather than federating them. The county is planning to undertake a survey of parents and carers between now and July and to discuss plans with the district's pupil parliament. It will also liaise with schools and governors as part of its initial "information gathering" stage. Depending on the outcome of those consultations, a full public consultation could then be held in the autumn before a final decision is taken soon after - not next summer as had originally been stated in a confidential report leaked to the Free Press. Parents and carers will have to decide which of the two options being proposed by the county they prefer. Option one involves: l The first schools (currently teaching up to year four/age nine) become primary schools (teaching up to year six/age 11). l Secondary education (ages 11-18) is provided on the West Somerset community college, Minehead, and at Danesfield Community School, Williton, sites either by an enlarged community college or by the two schools working together with a shared governing body. l The middle schools in Minehead and Dulverton close and one of the two Minehead primary schools would occupy the Minehead Middle School site. l Exford, Cutcombe and Timberscombe schools would continue to pursue federation and/or eventual amalgamation. Option two involves: l West Somerset Community College continues to provides 13-18 education for the whole West Somerset area. l The three middle schools and their partner first schools work together formally through federation or collaboration to provide 4-13 education in their respective areas. l First and middle schools encouraged to federate or, in some cases, amalgamate, particularly within the Danesfield and Dulverton groups and where schools occupy adjacent sites (as in Dulverton and Williton). A statement from Somerset County Council said changes were needed because the number of pupils enrolled at local schools was continuing to fall. A spokesman said: "This means that the current pattern of schooling in West Somerset needs to ensure the viability of schools and improvements in the current standards of education provision in the district. "Five schools in West Somerset have fewer than 40 pupils on roll and number of other schools are predicted to have falling rolls in the near future." He added: "To give parents and carers an opportunity to comment on these proposals, the county council has announced a programme of informal consultations. "The first stage of this programme is an information gathering stage. "This includes detailed discussions with the schools and governors, as well as a survey of parents and carers. "This information gathering phase will inform a report to be presented to Somerset County Council's executive board in July." He said a formal public consultation would only take place later in the year if it was found to be necessary. Gloria Cawood, the county council's portfolio holder for education, said: "We have two very robust options open for genuine discussion. "Our decision making process will be reliant on having a high quality consultation and we are absolutely determined that parents, carers and schools will have ample opportunity to consider the options. "While some of the issues that we are addressing are challenging, the consequences of not undertaking change could prove more painful in the long term and damaging to the quality of education that our children receive in West Somerset."
